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Samantha Armytage

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Samantha Armytage
Armytage in 2012
Born (1976-09-04) 4 September 1976 (age 48)
Adaminaby, New South Wales, Australia
Education
OccupationTelevision presenter
Years active1999−present
EmployerNine Network
Notable credit(s)Seven 4.30 News presenter
(2006–2012)
Weekend Sunrise co-host (2007–2013)
Sunrise co-host (2013–2021)
Spouse
Richard Lavender
​
(m. 2020)​

Samantha Armytage (born 4 September 1976)[2] is an Australian journalist and television presenter. She was previously co-host of the Seven Network's breakfast television program Sunrise from 2013 to 2021 alongside David Koch. She also previously co-hosted Weekend Sunrise and presented Seven's 4.30 News.

Early life

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Armytage was born to Mac and Elizabeth Armytage,[2] and has a younger brother, Charlie.[3] She grew up on Bolaro Station, a sheep property near Adaminaby in New South Wales, where her father was the station manager.[4] She attended boarding school at Kincoppal-Rose Bay in Sydney starting from Year Nine and then studied at Charles Sturt University.[2][4]

Armytage is a direct descendant of George Armytage, a pioneer British settler in Australia who was involved in an attack on local Aboriginal people.[5]

Career

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Armytage began her media career at WIN Television in Canberra in 1999, as a news reporter and presenter in Canberra.[6] Following this she joined Sky News Australia in 2002 where she was chief political reporter.

Seven Network

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In 2003, Armytage joined the Seven Network after being noticed by the network executives while covering the 2003 Canberra Bushfires.

In December 2004, Armytage landed her first major presenting role, filling-in as presenter on Seven News Sydney over the Summer non-ratings period. Following the non-ratings period she had stints presenting Seven Morning News, the national late news updates, and filling in as presenter of Seven News Sydney. Throughout 2005 and 2006, Armytage was a regular fill-in presenter for Chris Bath on Seven News Sydney.

In October 2006, Armytage replaced Mike Amor as presenter of Seven 4.30 News. She had replaced Rebecca Maddern as presenter when the network moved production from Melbourne to Sydney.

In 2011, Armytage was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars and continued to file reports for Sunday Night, while also being a regular fill-in presenter on Sunrise, Today Tonight and The Morning Show.

In 2014, Armytage presented the makeover reality show Bringing Sexy Back, which was cancelled after one season due to low ratings.

In October 2021, the Seven Network announced that Armytage would take part in Seven's race day coverage and appear as a special guest on the reality show The Farmer Wants a Wife when it returned in 2022.[7]

In February 2023, the Seven Network announced that Armytage would host the new season of The Farmer Wants a Wife.[8]

Sunrise and Weekend Sunrise

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Armytage (second from left) with other Sunrise presenters at 2013 Melbourne Cup

In June 2007, Armytage was appointed co-host of Weekend Sunrise alongside Andrew O'Keefe, replacing Lisa Wilkinson who moved to Today on the Nine Network.

In June 2013, Armytage was announced as the replacement for Sunrise co-host Melissa Doyle; she began her position that September.[9]

On 8 March 2021, Armytage announced her resignation from Sunrise, to spend more time with her family.[10] Her final show was on 11 March 2021.

Nine Network

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In September 2024, it was rumoured Armytage had signed a deal to join the Nine Network.[11] In October 2024, this was confirmed as Armytage was announced as host of Nine's upcoming adaptation of The Golden Bachelor.[12][13]

Other

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In 2017, Armytage joined News Corp Australia lifestyle magazine Stellar as a columnist.[14]

In collaboration with Stellar, Armytage launched her own podcast called Something to Talk About with Samantha Armytage in February 2021.[15]

Controversies

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In March 2015, Armytage was accused of racism in an on-air interview, after congratulating a woman for looking whiter than her twin. After an online petition was signed by over 2,000 people calling for her to apologise, she did so.[16]

In March 2018, Armytage hosted a segment on Sunrise focusing on Aboriginal adoption, during which she incorrectly claimed that Aboriginal children could not be fostered by White people and stated that "Post-Stolen Generation, there's been a huge move to leave Aboriginal children where they are, even if they're being neglected in their own families." Protests were held outside the Sunrise studio in Martin Place in response to the segment.[17][18] In September 2018, the Australian Communications and Media Authority ruled that the segment had breached the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice, as it contained inaccurate statements and "strong negative generalisations about Indigenous people as a group".[19] In June 2020, Armytage was sued for racial vilification over the segment.[20]

Personal life

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In June 2020, Armytage announced her engagement to partner Richard Lavender.[21] The two got married in a private ceremony in the Southern Highlands on 31 December 2020.[3] Armytage became a stepmother to Lavender's two daughters from his previous marriage.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "Sunrise host Samantha Armytage talks body image, backstabbing and dating". NewsComAu. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Sam Armytage engaged: who is her fiancé Richard Lavender?". au.news.yahoo.com. 23 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b Sutton, Candace (31 December 2020). "TV host shares wedding snap of New Year's Eve nuptials". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b Doherty, Megan (5 July 2013). "Sunny side of life for Armytage". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Everything you need to know about Samantha Armytage". Yahoo!. 2 June 2020. Archived from the original on 20 June 2020.
  6. ^ Samantha Armytage - Weekend Sunrise co-host (Seven Network, retrieved 25 July 2013)
  7. ^ Hirini, Rangi (12 October 2021). "Sam Armytage's reality TV comeback REVEALED". PerthNow. Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Major new TV role for Samantha Armytage". 7NEWS. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  9. ^ Queensland viewers warm to new Sunrise team of David Koch and Samantha Armytage by Geoff Shearer (The Courier-Mail, 11 July 2013)
  10. ^ "Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage to depart breakfast show after eight years". Seven News. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  11. ^ Perry, Kevin (13 September 2024). "Is Samantha Armytage Joining Channel 9 for THE GOLDEN BACHELOR AUSTRALIA?". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  12. ^ Knox, David (24 October 2024). "Upfronts 2025: Nine Network: The Floor, Golden Bachelor, Château DIY Aust". TV Tonight. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  13. ^ Laidlaw, Kyle (24 October 2024). "Nine Upfronts: The Floor and The Golden Bachelor Australia Confirmed for 2025 Lineup". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Sam Armytage: 'I have an announcement to make…'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  15. ^ "Newlywed Sam's 'BIG news'". PerthNow. 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  16. ^ Salemme, Nadia (28 April 2015). "Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage accused of racism in on-air interview with UK twins". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018.
  17. ^ Davidson, Helen (16 March 2018). "Sunrise hides Indigenous protest outside studio with stock footage". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018.
  18. ^ Schipp, Debbie (16 March 2018). "The protest Sunrise didn't want you to see". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018.
  19. ^ "Channel Seven in breach for Sunrise segment on Indigenous children". Australian Communications and Media Authority. 4 September 2018.
  20. ^ Wolfe, Natalie (11 June 2020). "Channel 7, Sam Armytage and Prue MacSween sued for racial vilification". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020.
  21. ^ Turner-Cohen, Alex (21 June 2020). "Armytage announces engagement with diamond ring". News.com.au. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  22. ^ Sanders, Krystal; Hoffman, Lily (6 October 2020). "Lavender and Lace for Sam". The West Australian.

Sources

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